Pumps & Pipes
A society of curious people from the medical,
energy, and aerospace industries.
Letter from Merrilee Conway
Executive Director, Pumps & Pipes
Dear Partners, Supporters, and Friends,
As we move into 2026, I want to take a moment to reflect with gratitude on the extraordinary momentum we built together in 2025 and to thank each of you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and belief in the mission of Pumps & Pipes.
This past year marked one of the most successful and exciting chapters in our organization’s history. Our 2025 Annual Event was the largest we have ever hosted, achieving an incredible 112% year-over-year increase in ticket sales and bringing together leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across medicine, energy, and aerospace. The event also introduced two important milestones: our first-ever high school student STEAM career and skills exploration track, as well as a research poster competition for master’s and PhD students, both of which expanded the depth of engagement across generations of innovators.
Our student-centered STEAM initiatives also experienced tremendous growth. In 2025, Pumps & Pipes hosted two summer camps and supported three high school clubs with year-round programming, collectively reaching more than 200 students. These programs continue to create meaningful pathways for young people to explore careers, build practical skills, and engage with real-world challenges at the intersection of industries.
In 2026 we seek even greater growth across both our professional and educational missions, further integrating business, academia, community leaders, and learners of all ages into a shared ecosystem of cross-industry collaboration and discovery. By building stronger bridges between these groups, we can inspire the next generation while driving meaningful progress today.
Thank you for being an essential part of this journey. Your partnership and support make this work possible, and we are energized by what we will accomplish together in 2026.
With gratitude,
Merrilee Conway
Executive Director
Pumps & Pipes
Pumps & Pipes Annual Event
Join us as Pumps & Pipes celebrates its 20th Annual Event, bringing together innovators, leaders, researchers, educators, and students from medicine, energy, and aerospace to explore how breakthroughs emerge in the world’s most demanding environments. Houston’s unique concentration of expertise across these industries provides the ideal setting for meaningful collaboration and the exchange of ideas that can improve lives, advance technology, and inspire the next generation.
This year’s theme, “Surviving the Extremes: Strategies, Stories, and Opportunities,” highlights the resilience, innovation, and leadership required to succeed under extraordinary conditions. The event features Mike Gabler, winner of Survivor Season 43, as keynote speaker, sharing powerful lessons on adaptability, teamwork, decision-making, and perseverance.
Mon, Dec 7, 8am - 5pm CST
Innovative Events
STEAM
The Pumps & Pipes STEAM program supports after-school clubs at high schools across the Houston area, connecting students with real-world opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Through hands-on experiences and direct industry engagement, we help students explore what it means to pursue a technical or innovative career. Our support includes guest speakers, interactive workshops, site visits, student-led projects, and competitions – all designed to inspire the next generation of problem solvers and innovators.
Closest to the Line Rally
Event Date: April 18, 2026
Event Address: Rice University Moody Center for the Arts, 6100 Main Street, Houston 77005
If you are interested in a career in medicine, energy, or aerospace and enthusiastic about STEAM, join us for a day of fun and competition where teams use rate process design to control the distance traveled by model cars.
